1. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, September 16, 1864.
2. Commander Rogers to Mr. Adams, September 14, 1864.
3. Lieutenant McCormick to Commander Rogers, September 14, 1864
Mr. Adams to Lord Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
September 16,
1864.
My Lord: I regret to be under the
necessity of submitting to your consideration the copy of a
letter which I have just received from the commander of the
United States steamer Iroquois, giving an account of the manner
in which three seamen belonging to that vessel, and escaping
from it at Dover, who had been arrested and reclaimed, were
finally discharged by order of the authorities of that
place.
I am fully aware of the fact that in the absence of any treaty
stipulations on the subject between the two nations, no means of
recovery of deserting seamen from their respective ships-of-war
exist beyond those furnished by the comity reciprocally
exercised by the one towards the other. All endeavors made to
place this matter on a more satisfactory footing appear to have
proved thus far unsuccessful. But I cannot disguise from your
lordship my apprehension that the unfortunate occurrence which
has just taken place will have a tendency to make the
difficulties now existing for the want of some understanding
still more serious. It is scarcely to be expected that her
Majesty’s ships, when visiting the ports of the United States,
will not be subjected to similar hazards. And if so unfortunate
as to lose men by desertion, it is to be feared that the
obligations to return them will be regarded as little more valid
in any future case on that side, than it has proved in the
present one. The injury to discipline in both services must be
in the end much the same. These are considerations so obviously
affecting the interests of the two nations alike that I cannot
but hope that some means may be devised by which to put a
seasonable stop to what may otherwise prove a grave cause of
irritation on both sides.
It is proper for me to apprise your lordship that I have ventured
to make this early representation purely on my own authority,
and in advance of any suggestions from my government. Meanwhile,
I shall take the proper measures to transmit copies of the
papers for its consideration.
I pray your lordship to accept, &c,
Right Hon. Earl Russell,
&c., &c., &c.
Commander Rogers to Mr.
Adams..
United States Steamer
Iroquois,
Downs, England,
September 14,
1864.
Sir: I would most respectfully call
your attention to the following occurrence:
Two hours before daylight yesterday morning, while we were
coaling ship from a brig alongside, two of our boats were of
necessity lying astern, with boat-keepers in them. When the
watch was relieved, three of those boat-keepers, being in one
boat, pretended to break adrift, and were rapidly carried out of
sight by the current. Their departure was instantly reported,
and they were promptly pursued. The boat in pursuit, supposing
that their separation from the ship was involuntary, steered in
the direction in which the tide was setting, but the deserters,
as soon as they were lost to sight in the darkness, paddled
their boat across the current to the shore, very near to which
we were anchored, and effected their escape.
I immediately sent to our consular agent on shore, who placed the
police upon their track, and their arrest was accomplished
during the day, at some distance from Dover.
In the afternoon the weather became stormy, and I was admonished
by the pilot that our anchorage was insecure, and was advised to
seek shelter in the Downs. I, however, remained long enough at
Dover to send a lieutenant to the chief of police, to claim and
receive the deserters.
At six o’clock Lieutenant McCormick returned, with a polite
message from that functionary, stating that our deserters were
in custody, and would be delivered to us on the following day,
at eleven o’clock, upon our complying with certain formalities,
required alike from British naval officers, to show that the
deserters really belonged to the service by which they were
claimed.
By this time the anchorage had become so insecure at Dover, that
I felt obliged to take refuge in the Downs.
This morning I despatched Lieutenant McCormick and Paymaster
Bates to reclaim these deserters, to prove their identity, and
establish the fact of their belonging to the naval service of
the United States.
This afternoon Lieutenant McCormick returned to the Iroquois and
reported to me that the authorities at Dover had released the
deserters from custody, and had declined to deliver them into
his hands, or those of our consular agent. I beg leave to
enclose a copy of his written report to me.
In a service of more than thirty years, in all parts of the
world, this is the first instance I have ever known of the
authorities of any place intervening to prevent the delivery of
deserters from a ship-of-war, arrested by the police at the
request of a naval commander.
The unfriendliness of this action, and the encouragement which it
offers to our men to desert, seems to me of a sufficiently grave
character to command your attention, and, therefore, I
respectfully bring it to your notice.
The three deserters have been released from custody, and I am
powerless to arrest them. Had they escaped to an enemy’s coast,
they could not have been more effectually shielded from my
endeavors to bring them back to the service in which they had
voluntarily enlisted, and which they have so dishonorably
deserted.
I have the honor to be, &c,
C. R. P. ROGERS, Commander U, S, N.,
Commanding U, S, S, Iroquois,
His Excellency Charles F. Adams,
United States Minister,
London,
P. S.—The Iroquois is only awaiting the arrival of provisions
from London, to sail for a station remote from the shores of
Europe.
Lieutenant McCormick to
Commander Rogers.
United States Steamer
Iroquois,
Of Deal, England,
September 14,
1864,
Sir: In obedience to orders, I went on
shore yesterday evening, as your representative, to ask the
delivery into our hands of Able Tucker, (captain top, ) Edward
Walker, (captain after-guard) and Fred. Arnold, (seaman, ) who
had on that morning deserted from this vessel while at anchor
off Dover, and who were then held at the police station, having
been arrested near Canterbury. I saw the superintendent of
police, made the request, and was courteously informed that it
would be necessary to carry the deserters before a magistrate,
and for one of the officers of this vessel to appear against
them, as is customary in cases of deserters from the English
navy.
This morning, in company with Paymaster Bates, I went to Dover to
be present during the examination. We were joined by Mr. Sisco,
the consular agent of the United States, and at eleven o’clock
went to the magistrate’s office, when Mr. Sisco, in my presence,
demanded the men as deserters from this vessel, in a letter
which he handed to the magistrate. The lawyer employed by the
deserters asked their instant release, as there was no authority
for their arrest or detention, they having in no way violated
the law of England. The office was then cleared for a
consultation. In about fifteen minutes we were again admitted,
when the magistrate decided that he had no right to hold the
men, or to deliver them to us, and ordered their release from
confinement.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. H. McCormick, Lieutenant United
States Navy.
Commander C. R. P. Rogers,
United States Navy, United States Steamer
Iroquois.
